Filmmaker Jade Castro —JADE CASTRO/ FACEBOOK
If it happened to someone like Jade, it can happen to anyone,” said filmmaker Adolfo “Adolf” Alix Jr. as a way to describe what he felt about the circumstances that led to the incarceration, detention and eventual arson charge against his collaborator and close friend, Jade Castro.
Jade and his three companions, Ernesto Orcinem, Noel Mariano and Dominic Valerio Ramos, were arrested without a warrant on Feb. 1 in Mulanay, Quezon, after authorities said witnesses identified them as the men who torched a modern jeepney in another town. A week later, prosecutors found probable cause to pursue arson charges against them. “It was shocking news, especially since they have proof that they were in a different place when the incident happened. But I guess the most important lesson here—since Jade is a believer in the due process of law—is that, ironically, it’s your belief that will sometimes give you the reason to doubt the justice system. Since a case has already been filed against him, he now has to go through that process.”
Adolf Alix Jr. (right) with writer Gina Marissa Tagasa —ADOLF ALIX/ FACEBOOK
Vigilance
To those following the development of Jade’s story, Adolf said this teaches them to be more vigilant. “You can get arrested and detained just like that. We now realize that this can happen, not only in the films we make, but even in real life where the situation is far more aggravated. It’s just disheartening that Jade has to go through this even though he already has evidence to prove his innocence,” Adolf pointed out. For Adolf, Jade is the type of person who makes his views known publicly, especially on causes that he feels strongly about. “Jade is someone with awareness and concern about what’s happening around him, and so whatever testimony he will make for this particular cause will be a lot stronger and believable,” said Adolf when asked what he thought would be the silver lining in this very dark cloud hovering over Jade.
“He will now have a personal understanding of our justice system, of the changes that need to be done within that system. I also believe that the incident will change Jade’s perspective as an artist.”
Adolf and Jade first worked together as part of the creative team behind the 2005 comedy “D Anothers.” They also belong to the same batch of filmmakers who participated at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in 2007, with Adolf competing with “Kadin” and Jade with “Endo.”
Incidentally, Adolf’s romantic drama “After All,” starring Beauty Gonzalez and Kelvin Miranda, is currently screening in cinemas nationwide.
From left: Kelvin Miranda
(left), Beauty Gonzalez
and Teejay Marquez
in “After All” —YOUTUBE
Elements of reincarnation
“After All” is a concept by GMA 7 executive Joey Abacan and resident writer Gina Marissa Tagasa, who eventually wrote the script. It was supposed to be the follow-up project of Beauty and Kelvin (now collectively known as KelTy) after the success of “Loving Miss Bridgette,” an episode of the Kapuso drama anthology “Stories from the Heart.”
According to Adolf, “After All” is a May-December love story with elements of reincarnation. It was shot in Bolinao, Pangasinan, in 2021. “It’s about undying love,” Adolf continued. “It’s premise is that, ‘What if you suddenly meet someone who reminds you of your one great love? Will you dismiss this as a mere coincidence or will you grab the opportunity to fall in love again? What if that person you are falling for is also someone your child is considering to pursue romantically?’”
‘Hard to explain’
Teejay Marquez plays Beauty’s gay son in the film. “Now, the woman is torn between two of her loves—her son and her true love Joselito,” said Adolf, adding that the idea of reincarnation was not something that’s forced onto the audience. “Even Kelvin’s character, Joseph, is confused because he dreams of certain things that he feels may have already happened to him. When he sees Czarina—who calls him Joselito—he is reminded of certain memories, including the love languages that only Czarina and Joselito are supposed to know. [The idea of reincarnation] is inexplicable to Joseph, just like love to us in general. If you fall in love, you sometimes find it hard to explain.”
Adolf has also directed National Artist for Film Nora Aunor in the dramatic film “Pieta,” alongside Gina Alajar and Alfred Vargas. He has also done “Mananambal,” also with Nora, Kelvin, Bianca Umali and Edgar Allan Guzman; “The Vigil,” with Faye Lorenzo, and “X & Y” with Ina Raymundo and Will Ashley. He is currently taping for the Kapuso series “Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law” and is working on the film “Karnabal” with Carlo Aquino, Gina, Ricky Davao and Elizabeth Oropesa.